Kelly Balk of Centenary College looks at some photos of herself taken during her open flat class. Balk won on the flat and over fences to become High Point Rider at the November 20th USMA show.

USMA AND CENTENARY TIE FOR HIGH POINT AT FINAL FALL SHOW

Readington, NJ - Many people do not know exactly how IHSA teams score points at horse shows. Spectators know that a blue ribbon equals first and seven points, a red ribbon equals second and five points, etc. Yet exactly how a team gets a number of points between zero and 49 is a mystery to some. Today's show provides a good example of how this system works.

At the beginning of the day, as was the case at Briarwood Farm where the United States Military Academy was hosting on November 20th, each team is given a blank point sheet. The sheet has the names of each IHSA hunter seat division: Open Flat, Open Fences, Intermediate Flat, Intermediate Fences, Novice Flat, Novice Fences, Walk-Trot-Canter and Walk-Trot. Someone from each team fills out their sheet by picking one rider on their team from each division and writing that person's name on the sheet in their division. The Coaches of Drew University for example (the team which won eight days earlier with 38 points), would pick one of their open riders for level 8 which is open fences. They might write in the name of Kristine Kennedy for this division, as Kennedy has been on a hot streak of late, giving her the lead in the Region 1 Cacchione/Open Rider Standings. Kennedy is very good, but Drew has several other top notch open riders to choose from. The placing for the rider written on this point sheet will be the one that counts toward the team total. This is the case in all eight divisions.

While Drew may have the luxury of pointing a dependible rider like Kennedy (third at 2005 Nationals in the Cacchione Cup Competition), most teams have dilemmas in more than one division due to riders who are generally of equal ability. In some cases a team may have only one rider in a given division, making the decision of who to point an easy one. Some schools do not have any riders in a specific division. These schools submit their point sheet, or 'Point Card' as it is also known, with blank spaces for the divisions in which they currently have no rider entered. The point sheet must be turned in to the host school before the show starts (and in most regions before the horse draw).

In some regions, including this one, the point sheets are posted on a wall so that spectators can follow along to see how well each pointed rider does. Following each class, the point sheets are updated, as someone from the host school writes in the placings of any of the pointed riders. For example Kennedy, who was pointed in the first class of the day, won over fences and thus earned Drew seven points. Elizabeth Ford of Bard College was the only open rider for her school on this day, so she was automatically pointed in her class. Ford, who only two weeks ago was still at both intermediate levels, won the second section of open fences, giving Bard seven points. The third section of open fences was won by Drew senior Kate Baer, who by winning the class denied riders from other schools the chance to score seven points for their team. This is called 'Blocking' points, as in blocking someone else from a better ribbon.

Through the open fences both Drew and Bard had the lead with seven points each. The intermediate fences followed, and with it was the start of a trend, or perhaps a streak if you will. Elizabeth Parent of Centenary College won the first of two intermediate fences classes, while cyclone teammate Kelly Balk won the second and final section of intermediate jumping. Though some might think that Centenary got seven points, one must remember that the cyclones had three riders in each section, and if the pointed rider did not do well then those would be the points awarded to the team.

Kate Baer of Drew University (pictured) won the third of three sections of open fences on November 20th. Teammate Kristine Kennedy also won her section of open fences, while Lya Gardener of Drew won the Rangers' third blue ribbon with a first in beginner walk-trot-canter.

The open flat followed. Centenary's Ashley DiBongrazio won the first section, teammate Genna Centolanza the second and yet another Centenary rider, Holly Fatula, the third. Fatula's first made it five classes in a row won by Centenary riders. Then came intermediate flat and more of the same. Balk won again, while Renee Blacharski would win the second section for Centenary. Now the Cyclones had seven blue ribbons in a row, but only one of them translated into seven points for the team.

The lunch break followed, and then came novice fences. Noelle Castagna, Nora Crist, Jessica Anselmo and Kara Hertz all proceeded to win over the novice jumps for Centenary. Yet one of the riders who placed fourth for the cyclones was the 'Point' rider. However strength in numbers has an up side: Because the cyclones had at least two riders (and in two cases four riders) in each section of novice fences, the talented Centenary riders blocked most of the competition. Centenary had the top three riders in the third section, and the first and third-place riders in the fourth section. Aside from the cyclones, only the USMA could claim more than one top three finisher in the novice fences division. (It should be noted that Centenary had over 50 rides at today's show, easily the most by any team. With Centenary usually sporting the largest team at each Region 1 show, the cyclones have been known to beat themselves while also scoring more points than others, this due to multiple Centenary riders in the majority of sections.)

Though the Alumni divisions do not count toward the team totals, 2005 Centenary graduate Amy Gregonis won the alumni fences. Virginia Tech graduate and first year Pace Head Coach Lisa Tomaselli was second while Drew graduate and Assistant Coach Sandra Sayre was third. Sayre finished the fall with 37 points over fences, four more than Gregonis. Both exceeded the 28 points needed in the division to qualify for Regionals, scheduled for Saturday, April 1st.

Zone 2, Region 1 is one of a small number of regions to hold the Maiden Fences division. While not an official class, the division allows riders who are perhaps not ready for novice fences to jump some crossrails. It is good preparation for the day when these riders will have a vertical to clear. Gabby Skerett of the College of Saint Elizabeth won the class on this day.

The first section of Advanced walk-trot-canter followed. Victoria Eckert gave Centenary their 12th consecutive blue ribbon in an official undergraduate class with a first here. Alumni flat followed, with Gregonis, Tomaselli and Sayre repeating their placings from alumni fences. Gregonis leads the division through six shows, ahead of Sayre by a 40-30 margin. Both have already qualified for Regionals.

Between the two, they did not earn a ribbon below reserve. 2002 Virginia Tech graduate Lisa Tomaselli (left) is in her first season as Pace University Head Coach. Devan DeLuca of Pace (right) won her section of advanced walk-trot-canter while Tomaselli, riding Alumni for only the second time, was reserve in both alumni divisions. Pace scored 25 points for the day, four fewer than USMA and Centenary.

Though Centenary had three riders in Section 3A, the first of four sections of novice flat, their streak of blue ribbons in undergraduate classes that count came to an end. Stevens Institute freshman Courtney Lorah was the winner. From Lewis, Delaware, Lorah has scored at least 12 points at two different fall shows (second today over novice fences) and is closing in on two trips to Regionals. Centenary's streak of wins was certain to stop during the next class, as Section 2A-a, the first of two sections of beginner walk-trot-canter, did not have a Centenary rider in it! Though freshman Jamie Green would provide Pace University with their first blue ribbon of the day in this division, the setters would earn a few more.

Jessica Hendler provided The State University of New York at New Paltz with their lone blue ribbon of the day with a first in the next section of novice flat, while Natalie Heimel did the same for the United States Military Academy in the first section of advanced walk-trot-canter moments later. Heimel, who had won at least three blue ribbons in the division so far this season, was a point rider for the USMA, giving them seven points. This was very important, as the USMA was neck-and-neck with Centenary for the day up to this point, this despite the disparity in blue ribbons.

The second section of beginner walk-trot-canter went to Lya Gardener of Drew. This would be the final blue ribbon of the day for the rangers, who cut deep into the Centenary lead at the previous show and would end the fall within 20 points of the cyclones overall. Kennedy also goes into the winter break leading DiBongrazio by seven points in the Cacchione race.

Following the beginner walk-trot-canter, Centenary returned to their winning ways, as Jocelyn Schimmel won the third section of novice flat. The first section of walk-trot also went to the cyclones, as freshman Ashley Reimel was the winner.

Pace and Centenary then alternated wining the last four classes. Mary Zinn Goodman of Pace won the final section of novice flat, while Louise Cencala of Centenary won the second section of walk-trot. Devan DeLuca won the final section of advanced walk-trot-canter for the setters while Chirstina Agusto won the final class of the day for Centenary, giving the cyclones a sweep of the walk-trot. This was very important, as Centenary had only three riders in total entered in the division, and each won guaranteeing seven points for the team. At the end of the day, Centenary had 16 blue ribbons, with one earned in every division save for open fences and walk-trot-canter. The USMA had only one blue ribbon, yet the final score showed the cyclones and the black knights tied for high point team!

USMA had picked up enough points here and there in each division to score 29. Centenary had certainly done well, yet all but two of their pointed riders finished second or lower, with the majority beaten by their own teammates. Centenary tied with the USMA at 29, while Pace, helped by their late surge was next with 25. Drew earned 23, while Sarah Lawrence was fourth or fifth depending on how you look at it, with 18. Balk, a junior from Eldersburg, Maryland, was the only rider with two firsts and thus was High Point Rider. DiBongrazio and Lorah flipped a coin for the Reserve Ribbon, with Lorah the winner as heads came up after DiBongrazio called tales.

What's next?: Three spring shows have been confirmed, with one at Centenary on February 26th and two more at Briarwood in March. The cyclones are trying to become the first hunter seat team in IHSA history to win their region 17 seasons in a row (they currently share the record of 16 with both Stony Brook and Colorado State). Drew has shown that if Centenary has an off day the rangers are able to capitalize. Centenary scored only 21 points when Stevens hosted at Centenary on November 12th. Assuming the cyclones do not repeat that performance on February 26th, the IHSA record is in sight. Otherwise, the final show on March 26th may have more meaning than any Region 1 season finale since USMA trailed Centenary by nine going into the final 2000-01 show. Centenary pulled further ahead that day, and went on to tie for third at 2001 IHSA Nationals in Conyers, Georgia.

---Steve Maxwell

Show Incidentals: Sunny skies but chilly, with a high temperature in the mid '50's. Start time: 8:42AM. Finish: 3:00PM - includes 30 minute Lunch Break/Coaches & Captains meeting. Point cards posted in this region? Yes. Alumni Classes held in this region? Yes. Judge: Wendy Chapot, Bedminster, NJ. Stewards: Tomaselli/Pace University, Sykes/Drew University and Rakoczy/Sarah Lawrence College.

Hunter Seat Team Totals: Centenary College (TIE-High Point Team) 29; United States Military Academy (TIE-High Point Team) 29; Pace University 25; Drew University 23; Sarah Lawrence College 18; Stevens Institute of Technology 16; Marist College 13; Bard College 10; Vassar College 7; State University of New York at New Paltz 4; Manhattanville College 3; College of Saint Elizabeth 0 and William Paterson University 0.

High Point Rider - Kelly Balk, Centenary College.
Reserve High Point Rider - Courtney Lorah, Stevens Institute of Technology.